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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

A Model to Simulate Clinically Relevant Hypoxia in Humans
Published on: December 22, 2016
Increased norepinephrine variability in patients with sleep apnea syndrome
P Baylor1, A Mouton, H H Shamoon
1Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Fresno, California 93703, USA.
Objective:
To assess the plasma arterial catecholamine response to nocturnal desaturation in a group of patients with a history suggestive of sleep apnea.
Patients And Methods:
At a Veterans Affairs hospital, 10 patients who had a history consistent with sleep apnea syndrome were involved in the study. Arterial plasma catecholamines were measured at varying intervals during a 5 1/2-hour sleep study. Eighteen samples per patient were analyzed.
Results:
As the hemoglobin saturation decreased, the variability in plasma norepinephrine increased significantly (r = -.78, P = 0.004). As the hemoglobin saturation fell, there was a trend towards higher concentrations of plasma norepinephrine (r = -.53, P = 0.06). As the hemoglobin saturation decreased, the variability in plasma epinephrine concentration was not significant (r = .42).
Conclusion:
The association between the degree of desaturation and the variability in norepinephrine suggests that norepinephrine is released in response to nocturnal desaturation.
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